Chapter 18: Dragon Rider

Arcturus woke up to the sound of Veledar’s sneeze. The dragon held him firm as his body constricted. His eyes opened to find that he was still snug against the dragon’s chest. To wake up, or enjoy the comfort of scales a bit longer? Arcturus smiled. He went to wiggle free, but it was simply so warm and comfortable to be tucked against that sea of warm scales that he shortly decided against it, going slack against the dragon and just enjoying the feeling of those big, protective paws.

“Did I wake you?” Veledar asked. Arcturus could feel the dragon's tail swishing gently.

“With your sneeze. Not with your claws, or with that fearsome elf-devouring mouth. With your sneeze, out of all things.” The human chuckled at how ridiculous that sounded. “I contemplated leaving, even went for it actually, only that I found myself unable to free myself.”

“I did not think I was holding you so tight.” Veledar chuckled. The dragon slowly relinquished his grasp.

“Nah, wasn’t your paws, you big winged lizard. It was just so comfortable and warm there, near your chest, that I had an impossible time crawling out into the cold.” Arcturus stood up, stretching his hands to the ceiling with a yawn.

“Besides, you had to go and miss me,” Arcturus smiled, “thought I was all done acting as a stuffed animal for you.”

Veledar walked past him, the dragon's frilled tail tip touching his neck softly. “I found I needed some good company. My bed felt ever so lonely without you in it.”

“Gods. You make it sound like we are lovers. You’re lucky the girls aren’t paying attention,” Arcturus grinned, stretching to his side.

“Yes. Hardly so. Can you imagine something more ridiculous than that? Me, a dragon, reducing myself to the level of a mere human?”

“A paladin!” Arcturus pointed out with a finger. “And an attractive one at that.”

“Sure, sure,” Veledar snorted, then put a grin on his muzzle, “Although...”

“No. Let me. I have to admit one thing about this union. The warmth, your heart beat, I may be getting spoiled.” Arcturus touched his hands to his boots. “I may never find sleeping in my own bed enjoyable, and it’s all because of you. You are positively ruining my future here, dragon.”

“One can only hope.” Veledar snarked as he stretched his wings wide.

“You really mean that?”

“How good of a future can that be, without a dragon in it?”

Arcturus shoved the dragon playfully as Veledar summoned a table covered with breakfast. Arcturus managed to drink down a cup of coffee and a glass of water, then helped himself to some eggs and sausage before setting his utensils down with a burp. Lyndis and Merlia strolled over, finished with their morning preparations of magic. Lyndis once again covered Veledar's mouth before he could speak.

“Let me guess. Coffee?” The dragon smirked with a swish of his tail.

Lyndis nodded silently as she sipped from the coffee mug held in her hands.

Arcturus watched the dragon chat away, looking more like himself than he had the other day. Although this was a most welcome change, it still surprised him. It was a very hard day for the dragon, after all. To endure so much pain all of a sudden…the thought almost felt as dark as the night when Arcturus lost his own family.

“Auron!” Veledar said loudly, his voice filled with purpose. He walked through piles of coin, spreading them around with his claws. “You mentioned something about a treasure. Come on, come out wherever you are! I need to see the gifts you mentioned!”

Veledar stopped, then swirled his head towards the others. Arcturus saw a grin spread on the dragon’s snout as their eyes met. “Now for the rest of you, I think I may have some items in this hoard that will be of use for our quest.” The dragon then turned to Lyndis and held up a claw, “To borrow!”

Lyndis practically looked like she was jumping for joy.

“Now don't make me regret my on-the-wing decision. I’m still the master around here,” Veledar added as he began to pace around, waiting for Auron to appear. Veledar called out again for Auron, irritation growing in his voice. However just as the rumbling of his annoyed growl left the red dragon’s throat, Auron appeared before them in a crackle of azure light.

“Master wished to see this one?”

Veledar paused for a moment, “If you would retrieve my mother's...” Veledar seemed to choke on his next words, “Last gifts to me.”

“As you wish, master,” Auron vanished with a crack and a thin wisp of smoke.

“Are you sure you want to share your treasures, Veledar? I mean, I’m not one turn down a magical item when it is given willingly, but this is your hoard we’re talking about!” Arcturus said, arms crossed.

“Which makes it mine to lend out as I see fit. Although I can see that you are as humble as ever, dearest Arcturus.” Veledar started to circle the paladin with careful steps. “Have no worry for the sanctity of my hoard. I will get the magic items back, you see, so there is not really anything lost on my part.” He snorted, “It's not like I am giving them to untrustworthy or incapable hands.”

Veledar stopped dead in his tracks, giving Arcturus a look of pity, “Arcturus, you should act more like a dragon. Bahamut made you her champion. That is not just a title to boast with. You wield actual magic!” Veledar, with a wiggle of his tail, bounded behind a mound of coins, and started tossing items from around his body, causing them to rattle coins or occasionally clang. He tossed a goblet here, a jewel there, and the dragon moved several times while doing this.

“Are we sure he ain’ been driven mad by all dis gold? Heard tales of cursed riches dat can make even dragons greedy beyond imaginin’,” Merlia tilted her head to the side with a look of confusion on her brow.

“Yea, this is certainly new for him, but it makes sense if you think about it. He might actually be taking this more seriously than his other commitments.” Lyndis said calmly opening her backpack. “He is on a quest to retrieve a lost family heirloom, and wants it to succeed for the sake of his whole family. Now that he has this wondrous hoard at his disposal, what stops him from using its resources to retrieve his item and more importantly, keep us alive to get to that point?”

“Aha!” Veledar shouted. He turned around to reveal something that looked like a simple gray cloak with a golden leaf clasp. With a flash of his wings and a bounded leap. Veledar landed next to Lyndis, who gave a surprised gasp. Veledar moved around her, holding up the cloak as if to fit it on her.

“This was one of my favorites as a wrymling.” He gave a large tooth filled grin to them, “although I don't think it will fit me now. Not without a spell at least.” Veledar turned around to look at himself, wiggling his tail back and forth.

“What’s this dusty curtain?” Lyndis grabbed the cloak quickly from the dragon's grasp. “Is it for repelling fire spells? Shrinking? Flying?

Veledar went to speak, but she continued on with her barrage of questions.

“Or maybe it summons puppies? Does it make my skin like metal? Perhaps it can-”

Veledar put a claw over her mouth to silence her. “You are way too talkative and bad at guessing. You are a rogue, Lyndis.”

“The technical term is adventurer.”

“Precisely why I am giving you a cloak of invisibility.” He chuckled, like a father to a very excited child. “You simply have to utter “Houpe” while holding the clasp. Then you will be invisible. Isn’t that why I brought you into my party? To sneak around, steal things, bash people in the head when the need arises?”

“Actually, it was to make sure you two bonkheads aren’t gracing the walls of a dungeon, yeah,” Lyndis drawled. “So this invisibility spell of yours…how long does it last? It’d be far too good to sneak around indefinitely. Why, that’d make me a master rogue,” Lyndis put a hand to her mouth. “I could even steal your hoard.”

“No chance of that, missy,” The dragon hissed at her. Lyndis spoke only in jest of course. “The enchantment on this cloak lasts for an hour or so, three times a day. It used to bug my siblings something awful, as I would use it to perform pranks on them,” Veledar laughed and looked up as if he were looking at the scene playing out in front of him.

“Give it here.” Lyndis hung the cloak on her shoulders before doing a quick twirl. She gave a large smile as she held the clasp and whispered “Houpe”. Arcturus gasped as she vanished into thin air.

“Can you see me?” Lyndis asked, her voice filled with excitement. “I can't tell if I am invisible. How odd. This feels different than when I cast my own spell.”

“Wouldn't be much of an invisibility cloak if we could see ya lass.” Merlia laughed.

“Uh Veledar… how do I stop being invisible?”

“I forgot!” Veledar replied, tapping his claw to his snout. “You have to say the same word I believe, quite simple really.” The dragon then bounded back towards his mounds of treasure. Lyndis said the same word over again and appeared before Arcturus.

“That was incredible! I just love magic items!” She exclaimed, her smile practically stretching ear to ear.

“Don't you already have the power to turn invisible?” Arcturus raised an eyebrow.

“Yea, but it feels nothing like this, and does not last nearly as long! Oh, imagine all the things I can pull with this. Nothing will stop LYNDIS, THE GREATEST ROGUE THE WORLD HAD EVER KNOWN!” She bellowed, holding her arms wide.

“Calm down, or we might think you’re turning into Veledar over there.” Arcturus laughed,

“How is that a bad thing?” Veledar replied, tossing a silver goblet over his shoulder.

“I tink we could only eva survive one of ya.” Merlia chuckled, “Can ya imagin?”

“Well, there is only one of me, so tough luck finding a suitable impostor!” Veledar replied, no doubt his chest filling with pride like it usually did. “Now Merlia, what should your item be? An ever-filling flask of ale?”

“I wouldna mind that o' course, but how does that help ye quest?”

“Good point, good point. The quest comes first, always,” Veledar rolled his eyes and went back to digging through the treasure. He searched through the piles of items, literally sticking his head in to look around as the rest of the dragon dragon wiggled his hind end back and forth. For a few minutes this process repeated in several spots as the others looked on in amazement. It finally stopped as Veledar had started to thrash his tail and bare his teeth.

“I found it!” He exclaimed, bounding back to them with an item held in his claws.

“What do ye have dere?” Merlia rubbed her two hands together expectantly.

“A magic version of that harmless stick-thrower you call a bow. Exciting, isn’t it?” Veledar smiled as he forced the bow into Merlia's hands. “Take it! Tell me it isn’t the finest bow you held in those pudgy dwarven hands!”

It looked about the same size of a normal longbow, but seemed to be made of near pristine white wood. Thin golden stripes spread from its golden middle all the way to its ends.

“It's called the Oath-bow.”

“Thank ye,” Merlia furrowed her eyebrows as she turned the bow around, “But how does it work, besides the obvious?”

“It’s even more simple than that cloak over there. You see, all you have to do is focus on a person in front of you, and repeat the words. “Swift death to you who have wronged me.” Veledar said the phrase slow, as Merlia started to practice saying it. “After the oath is spoken, the bow allows your arrows to seek your target easier, even being able to go around cover to hit them. Although mind this. When your bow is locked onto the target, you will find it harder to hit with every other weapon.”

“Well dats goin to be a nasty surprise for me next foes. I bet I can hit plenty more knees wit dis!

“There should be an armory of minor magic weapons shortly over there,” Veledar pointed over to a dune hundreds of feet away. “Just go pick out some more weapons you might be interested in.”

The girls nodded in unison as they went to leave towards the indicated spot.

Veledar turned around towards Arcturus, his tail dragging along the ground. “Now for you Arcturus, besides the book I promised you, of course.” Veledar started to circle the paladin once more. “What to do, what to do? This is more complicated than it looks like.”

Arcturus held up a hand to tell him he had no need of anything.

All I need is you. As long as you stand by my side, I am the happiest paladin in Lumara.

That sounded so silly even inside his own head. No. He couldn’t tell Veledar that. If the girls heard him, he’d have no respite from the myriad of those dragon-lover jokes.

“Veledar, really, I’m-“ Although he did appreciate the offer, Veledar sensed this and cut him off before he could speak.

“Now don't turn this opportunity down so easily. It's not every day that a kind, striking dragon bestows such gifts to a… well...passable knight...”

Arcturus heard Lyndis and Merlia suddenly stop in their tracks as they stifled a fit of laughter between the two of them.

“What do you mean, passable?” Arcturus laughed, raising an eyebrow. “Should I also be alarmed that you are rating us on attractiveness?”

“Well by dragon standards anyway. I meant no offense to you, of course.” Veledar continued without missing a beat, “See, your snout is too small, you have no scales to speak of, no wings, no claws, not even a tail to grab!”

“I don't see how that's fair. We’re completely different species. You wouldn’t rank a weasel lower than a bird, yes.”

“Your rules do not apply to dragons.”

Merlia suddenly burst out laughing, her hands no longer holding it in. “Looks like dat dragon really fancies ya, Arcturus.”

“Well I would not be laughing if I were you Merlia. After all, you are pretty low on dragon standards.” Veledar smirked, sticking his tongue out at the ever-reddening dwarf.

“Is that so?” Merlia said slowly, her voice laced with anger, eyes squinted.

“Besides that, it’s pretty bad of you to discriminate on sexual preference.”

“I was makin a joke ya daft dragon, not discriminating!” Merlia held up a shaking fist.

“Careful there, Merlia, or you will stay that color of red for days. Although, if I think this through, this would improve your attractiveness on the dragon scale....” Veledar only reached the last word as Merlia ran after the dragon.

“That's it!” The dwarf yelled, “Get over here, ya great fire breathin git! I’ll knock those words outta yer mouth with da very bow ye gave me!”

Veledar laughed as he bounded out of the reach of the furious female, “You’re far too easy to rile, Merlia, I suggest seeing someone to work on all that anger.”

They continued for a minute as Arcturus and Lyndis watched on in amusement. It was clear though the dragon was simply toying with the dwarf, as she never truly got close to catching him during the entire time she was chasing him around.

“Besides, what if I did find fancy the human? Would you suddenly turn against us?” Veledar turned as he leaped onto a tall mound of treasure.

“Yer twisten my words! I'd simply make fun of ya for a different reason. Now get down here so I can catch you!” Merlia shouted. “I swear one o’ these days I will catch ya, and dere will not be a high enough mound o’ treasure to keep me hands from ya tail!”

“That may be a while,” Veledar replied, sticking his tongue out. “There is always a tree, building or rock to be get in your way, and I kind of trust those obstacles over your stubby dwarfish legs.”

Merlia pulled out the bow, “Don't make me turn ya into a pin cushion, ye scaly git.”

“Quick, Arcturus!” Veledar bounded to the paladin, then slunk behind him. “Save me, Paladin! Fulfill the sacred oath you swore to your master and protect me from the crazy dwarf!”

“Oh, I get it now, using human shields. Yer fightin dirty, dragon!” Merlia laughed, stowing the bow.

“Not in the way I expected, but true enough.” The dragon nodded his horned head at Merlia first, then the rest of the party. “Now that excitement is over, Arcturus, you should follow me to your present. Although I warn you. The face you make might beat all the human standards for surprise. It is something special, after all.”

Arcturus started to follow the dragon. He could feel the excitement building in his chest. How could it not, when Veledar practically radiated with joy?

“Oh, I will try to not die from praising this item too much.” Arcturus smiled, patting Veledar on his flank.

“Careful dere, Arcturus. Dat dragon might want ta give ye a special present.” Merlia laughed hard as she led Lyndis towards the armory. They only took several steps until both started giggling among themselves.

Veledar just snorted at them, stuck his tongue out, and returned his gaze to Arcturus. The paladin had to admit. That one was kind of funny, so he tried to hold in his laughter.

“Ignore them.” Veledar waved a dismissive paw at the two females, “my gift is special of course, but it’s not,” The dragon then paused to lower his voice to a whisper, “You know, whatever that dwarf cooked inside her dirty mind.”

Arcturus chuckled at Veledar’s quick thinking. “Oh, I’d never dream you capable of something indecent. Why, your brilliance is an example to us all.”

“Do you…mean that figuratively or-“

“Both.” Arcturus rubbed his hand over the dragon’s neck, making the scaly creature rumble with joy.

Veledar led him to what appeared to be a shrine nestled within the treasure. This time it was barrels and barrels that were labeled finest silk of Rothdell. On the pedestal of this shrine was an urn of blackened stone. Upon the urn was golden draconic writing if Arcturus had to guess by the harsh lines that looked as if they had been drawn by claw tip.

“It says, here lies Carpenter the brave,” Veledar spoke softly as he slowly walked over towards the shrine. He moved his snout side to side, obviously looking for something.

“Why is this here in your mother's lair?”

“Mother liked this human at one point in her life. He was a dashing hero, judging by her words. If memory serves, he helped her so much during his rather short life that he earned a place of honor here in her lair, so that he could always be with her in a very sweet, dragon kind of way.” Veledar replied quickly as he kept shifting furniture, coats, and other various treasures.

“Here we are. I figure he doesn't need this anymore. I also can't think of anyone else who would use them better.” Veledar returned with a dusty brown book equipped with a fine leather binding in one claw. In the other claw he held a grey shield that appeared to be made from a large mirror. “Always liked this one,” Veledar gestured to the shield with his snout.

“Only because it's a mirror,” Arcturus chuckled, and reached out for the items. He grabbed the leather book first, finding the cover worn with age. He opened it up to see that the pages were filled with instructions in how to cast spells, their names, and draconic runes.

“Interesting.” He carefully set the book down as he grabbed the shield. It was of course smooth, but it was also cold to the touch. He traced over with his finger several scratches along the otherwise pristine surface. This item must have been through many battles. The stories this shield could tell…

“What does it do?” He turned his head back to the dragon.

“Well, in addition to being tougher than a normal shield, I heard tales of how this shield could stop even the mightiest spell slung at Carpenter. Although, if I think about this right… this effect can only happen once or twice per day. I cannot remember which. Just be careful, as in, don’t gamble your life on the off chance I might be wrong, alright?”

Arcturus nodded at the dragon’s words. “This certainly is a most helpful item. I figure I should only rely on the one a day, and if trouble persists, I have my trusted scaly steed to rely on!”

“Be careful what you say. This steed can lick as well as he bites.” The dragon mischievously flicked his tongue out to display the length of his ‘weapon’.

“Come on now, Veledar. You don’t want to get this ancient tome soaked, or worse, ripped apart.” He placed the book softly on the shield. “Thank you. I know these gifts mean a lot to you.”

“Maybe enough to…kneel at my paws?” The dragon cocked his head with the same silly smile, only to grow serious when Arcturus actually crouched to touch his paws.

“H-hey, I didn’t mean that literally!”

“I’m not gonna waste this chance to tickle something else than your wings!” Arcturus picked up his efforts until he found himself in another dragon hug as Veledar held him tight. He could tell from the dragon’s shaky breath that this wasn’t another playful hug. He wanted this. No…needed to hold someone he cared for in his paws, just like he did last night. For a moment Arcturus was unsure of what to do, so he returned the hug and patted the dragon gently on his scales.

“It's okay, Veledar, Everything’s alright. Your wings and paws are safe from my hungry fingers,” he said softly as he heard a sniff from the dragon.

“Hey!” Veledar suddenly said, turning his head around to look behind him.

The dragon had to let go of Arcturus so he could see Lyndis and Merlia had found their way over to hug the dragon from behind.

“Can't I go away without you two following me?” Veledar groaned, looking like he gave a halfhearted push for them to get off.

“Never!” Lyndis said back with a smile, “I guess you’re stuck with this party of miscreants you assembled!”

Veledar turned back to Arcturus and shook his body hard enough to dislodge the two girls from his hide.

“Yer feelin mightily ornery today!” Merlia chuckled.

“Hey, leave him alone,” Arcturus pointed a finger at her face. “He wanted to tell me something important.”

“Oh,” The two girls gasped at each other.

“Guess dey about to do it,” Merlia chuckled, then quickly snuck behind a pile of treasure.

“Quick thinking there, partner,” Veledar smiled and approached his head to nuzzle Arcturus, who smiled and scratched Veledar under his jaw in return.

“These jokes about us being lovers are starting to get old.”

“Agreed. Ridiculous, how those two can’t figure something better. Anyway, in regards to my gift, I figured you needed a shield after you broke the other one over the spider’s face.” Then Veledar gestured to Arcturus' tabard, “We should also focus on getting you a new frontal cape. I don't think brown is your color.”

“It’s called a tabard, you hundred years old sage. Honestly Veledar, I thought dragons were supposed to know everything!” Arcturus held up a finger towards the dragon.

“Call it whatever you want, but the truth is you need a new one. I'm thinking red, with a silver dragon on it.” Veledar spread his wings to gesture the fact that said dragon had to be a sizable one.

“You’re only saying that because you want the colors to match your scales, you tricky goblin,” Arcturus laughed, picturing the red tabard in his mind. He had to admit though. The idea was not bad at all. He figured the red would look rather dashing with the silver.

“So?” Veledar replied, grinning wide, “red is a most attractive color.”

“Is that so?” Arcturus replied, gently shoving the dragon. Did he just blush when Veledar had said that? He shook his head. Of course he didn't. He was a paladin with over ten years of fighting experience under his belt, fully in control of his emotions.

Suddenly, they both heard a crack from their left side.

“Excuse me,” Auron suddenly said as he materialized from thin air. “This one has yet to present the master with the gifts left by his mother.”

Arcturus watched Veledar's snout -previously filled with laughter and joy- suddenly scrunch into a pained expression. He saw Veledar give a gulp before he spoke, “go ahead, Auron, I am strong enough to at least find this out, right? What is the gift?”

“Gifts,” Auron corrected, holding up a ghostly claw. The ghostly dragon swirled in place to suddenly reveal, with a puff of smoke, a large looking leather harness with numerous pouches meant to stash various items. On top there was clearly a saddle meant for someone.

“Her riding harness,” Veledar said softly, picking up the leather in his claws. Auron then clapped his paws together with a puff of blue magic before Veledar could react further. Arcturus watched things slightly shift as a transparent silver dragon stood before them all.

“Veledar,” the dragon said, standing tall with the frills on her neck extended. “I have ordered Auron here to leave you my word on the day that you are fully grown, and I am no longer there with you.”

The dragoness swished her tail like Veledar always did, “I have left my harness for you, along with Carpenter’s old weapon. I know you spoke fondly about that one day when you would have the opportunity to become an adventuring dragon, so the harness will allow you to fulfill that purpose.”

Her eyes seemed to look directly at Veledar, with a softness only a mother could show. “I know you will grow into a brave, strong dragon. One that will accomplish many great things.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Really momma?” Came the voice of a little red dragon that bounded to the silver one and grabbed one of her legs.

“Of course,” She smiled, nuzzling the little Veledar with her snout.

“But…why are you talking to Auron? Even he can’t predict the future, right? Right?”

“Oh my gods you were so cute!” Lyndis exclaimed, looking at the tiny Veledar who was transfixed on his mother.

“Graaarrrr!” Veledar snapped, holding a claw to his muzzle. “Be silent please. My mother’s still speaking!”

“I'm leaving a message for you to see when you are big and strong like I am now.” She replied, continuing to nuzzle the wrymling.

“Bigger!” The small red dragon flared his wings proudly.

“Yes, yes. Much bigger,” The silver dragoness gave him a fond lick under his jaw. “But even heroes have to start off somewhere, so you’d better listen to everything I have to teach!”

“Like this message?” The little dragon cocked his head.

“No, little one. This message is for later. Way, way later.”

“Why would you do that? I'm here right now!” Little Veledar protested, sticking his tongue out at his mother.

“So that, when you become a mighty wyrm with a mountain of treasure, you will know how much your mother loved you. I will always be by your side, Veledar, and neither distance, age, nor time will change how much I love you, my dearest red hero,” She swiped little Veledar off into one of her huge forepaws pressed the boisterous hatchling tightly against her chest, holding him there even as he started to squirm in her grasp.

“Not in front of future me!” little Veledar hissed, “You’re embarrassing me, mother!”

Arcturus put a hand over his mouth, both amused and amazed. It was simply so adorable to see the grown dragon that stood next to him in the present so little, cute, and fragile, all at the same time.

“You’re supposed to be napping with your brother and sister instead of complaining about my methods, you know.”

“If I go take a nap, will you stop nuzzling me in front of future me? Heroes are supposed to be strong, and…and fearless! They fight evil on their own, or maybe with other adventurers, but not with their mothers!”

“Maybe you’re right, my dear, wise Veledar,” The silver dragon nuzzled little Veledar one more time, gave him a short lick along his neck, then relaxed her grip.

“Yuck. I’m all messy now! You better not let hero me see this!” Little Veledar quickly scampered away, disappearing from view.

The silver dragon seemed to follow the small red dragon with her gaze. ”You were quite adorable then, my little Crimson, but don’t you ever think that changed. Hero or not, you are still my son. Same as you were all those years ago.” She then returned her gaze to the grown Veledar, holding claw and almost touching the real one’s snout. If Arcturus did not know better, he would have sworn she could actually see her son right now. Veledar gave a loud sniff as tears started to stream down his muzzle.

“I know it might seem like an insurmountable obstacle right now, but I know you will muster the fortitude to come on the other side better and stronger. I am so proud of you, my son, and I love you with all my heart no matter where your wings carry you.”

The image faded away, leaving them all victims to the sound of Veledar’s heart-wrenching sobbing. His crimson snout was drenched in tears as he lowered it closer to the ground. Arcturus and the others moved in quick and embraced the depressed dragon.

“We’re here for you, Veledar. All of us…including your mother.” The paladin said.

Veledar buried his snout into Arcturus' chest as he continued to sob. The human stroked Veledar's head, letting him cry it out.

“Yer mother has been a mightily fine lass. May she soar wit da rest of her kin in da afterlife.”

“I agree with Merlia,” Lyndis muttered her own words after the dwarf. “She might be gone now, Veledar, but her love will always remain with you, same as this hoard. Doubt you can spend all of this in twenty dragon lifetimes. Who knows? You might have to get busy and make little dragons of your own!”

“Shut up, you silly thief,” Veledar snorted, throwing a small smile in Lyndis’ direction. “I’ve still got a few more tears to shed before I’m ready to laugh at your jokes.”

“What’s going on between the two of you doesn’t really look like a-“

“Oy! Snap it shut before I snap it for ye!” Merlia hissed.

Veledar let the playful banter slide past his emotions and thoughts. He cried for a few more minutes, then, with a loud sniff, he wiped his snout clean of the translucent beads. With a thank you, the dragon gave them all a quick nuzzle with his wet snout. Veledar then grabbed the harness, and carefully attached it to himself. Arcturus saw that, at first, the dragon seemed to struggle with the larger size of the harness, but the longer he took in taking it on the easier it became, almost like the harness was enhanced with the ability to reshape itself according to the user’s size. The dragon clasped the final belt before striking a pose for all of them. He held his snout up high, unfurled his wings, stood straight, and curled his tail slightly around his magnificent body.

“How do I look? Marvelous, I presume? Dashing? Breathtaking? Awe inspiring?” The dragon said each word with increasing pride, the smugness on his snout growing proportionally to the weight of the praise.

Arcturus had to admit. The dragon did look good with the harness on. The way it seemed to move with him gave the idea it was not that uncomfortable as he often heard it from the gryphons forced to wear such things. His eyes focused onto the saddle portion of the harness. He imagined himself on top of the red dragon as Veledar flew them both into the vast, blue expanse of the sky. Perhaps the dragon did look dashing. The human put his hand to his chin as the dragon waited for an answer, his eyes wide.

“Well, now you look like a proper adventurer.” Lyndis smirked, “With all those pouches, I bet you can hold plenty of supplies.”

“That’s one way to put it, thank you very much. Guess I’ll just be your winged, smelly horse instead of the hero that swoops in to save the day!” Veledar replied with a disappointing snout wrinkle as he ran a claw through the coins beneath his paws.

“So why put on the harness now if you’re not looking to carry some things for us?” Arcturus asked with a meek smile on his face.

“That’s a very good question, human. I am going to stretch these beautiful wings of mine, catch the wind, and let the cold air brush off some bothersome thoughts from my head.” Veledar sighed, “Flying high in the sky always made me feel better even when I was a tiny, stupid hatchling.”

“What about our friends outside huntin ya?” Merlia asked, already slinging her pack around her shoulders.

“If we see them, I'll head back to the cave. The only reason they got to us last time is that they followed us closely through the illusion. Figure they should be far enough away to confuse me for a bird or something.”

“We?” Lyndis gasped, placing a hand over her mouth, “Who gets to fly with the magnificent Veledar?” Her eyes then fell to Arcturus knowingly. “Oh, who ever do we think it could possibly be? Tis a hard choice, is it not? Two sneaky maidens, one valiant man…it’s almost like the tales say, yes?” She grinned.

Veledar faced the tunnel they came from. then curled his head around to look to Arcturus.

“Paladin of Bahamut. Would you like to accompany me into the skies?”

Arcturus did not even need to think about such request. His mind made the decision before the dragon could even finish his question. “I'll do it!” he exclaimed in excitement.

“It would be a delightful honor to carry your armored ass up there,” Veledar finished. “Really?” The dragon asked, almost sounding as if he was surprised. However, it only lasted before a moment before the dragon charm once again took hold.

“Well I mean of course you would love to ride with me. My wings definitely beat those ugly sky ships your people use. Grah. Combustible wood everywhere mixed with the stench of metal and cheap alcohol…why, I’d pay somebody like my illustrious self to liberate me from that torture,” Veledar grinned as he stretched his wings out slowly. “And Merlia. Could you turn Ulga into an eagle or something else that has the capability of flying?”

“Well I sappose I could try dat,” Merlia replied, stroking her chin softly. “We gonna be flyin da rest o’ de wey?”

“You mean Veledar will be flying us there?” Lyndis said suddenly, clasping her hands together loudly with a clap.

“Well, I figure it was about time I swallow my pride and got this journey over with as soon as possible.”

“Finally,” Lyndis grinned, “I was waiting for your scaly bottom to cave in.”

“Don't tempt me to leave you behind, Lyndis. Treasure might look great, but it is a poor substitute for my enchanting company,” Veledar growled with a chuckle.

Arcturus made his way back to his belongings. It was hard to avoid the temptation to rush packing his things with the dragon's wing beats always on his mind. He put on his gambeson, tabard, and every armor piece one by one. He lastly stowed his sword into its sheath, slung the mirror shield gifted to him by Veledar over his back, and took his place at the red dragon’s side.

Lyndis pulled a map from her pack as she started walking with Merlia along the silver path back to the entrance. Everyone else followed in step beside her in silence. Arcturus stood on Veledar’s left. With each step, he could feel his anticipation growing. After all, he had never been properly introduced to flying on a dragon’s back. He had always been picked up like a scared stag in the dragon’s claws, or had to hold on for dear life upon the creature’s scaly back. This time, things were bound to be different. This time, he would fly properly upon the back of his dragon companion and friend.

Arcturus spent most of the time watching the dragon's movements, and hardly noticed when they had gotten back to the cave’s entrance. Merlia pulled Ulga from her pocket, unrolled a mat, and keeled upon it gently. She closed her eyes and started chanting in dwarven quietly.

“Now don't get into trouble you two.” Lyndis said, pointing a finger at Arcturus' breastplate. She then did the same with Veledar's scaled chest. 'We don't need any more company here so don’t come along with any uninvited guests, friendly or not.” She turned back to the map she had pulled out, her eyes scanning the parchment. “Still here? Fly, you two, so I can figure out the better route for us to take to Entis. Things are going to be a lot trickier with these thugs on our tails.”

“Well you heard her.” Veledar said, crouching slight with care, to allow Arcturus better access to get on the saddle. “Shall we?” The dragon swished his tail invitingly.

“Don’t see why not.” Arcturus climbed one foot over, just like he would on a horse, although the thought was quickly struck from his mind. He would never compare his friend to a horse outside of a joke, and he would probably get insulted at the very idea by his wife’s memory, who’d certainly be able to make the difference between the monster that took her life and the friend Arcturus was about to ride upon.

The paladin tested his boot, pleased to find it was secure in the saddle. He found a cord latched on with a metal ring that he wrapped around his waist and secured it. He figured it was to help him stay on the dragon during turns and other maneuvers. Next thing he noticed was that the harness had no reins to speak of, which was right. It wasn’t like he had to control Veledar like a steed. Despite that oddity with which Arcturus grew accustomed to from the hundreds of horses he’d mounted throughout his life, the saddle felt very much like a normal one.

“So where did you want to fly?” He asked, feeling the warm dragon flex his muscles with eager anticipation.

“I figured we should do a few loops around the mountain, coupled with some banks and turns so that you can get a feel of how my wings take the wind.”

“Feel for you? That’s what’s this is about, eh?” He grinned. He suddenly realized that possibly the dwarf’s humor was starting to rub on him. He just laughed it off, and witnessed the dragon giving him a quick smirk.

“You are not completely wrong there. If we are to be companions, we should get a feel for flying properly together. So that when we fight, we can do it together...as one.” Veledar stretched his wings wide. Then, with a flick of his mighty tail, refolded them against his back.

Arcturus patted the dragon's scales, “Alright then, partner. I’m ready for whatever you want to throw at me.”

“Are you completely sure that all your gear is stowed correctly?”

Arcturus saw that the dragon's eye had started to inspect him from head to boot. “Why are you asking?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Just case I decide to do some maneuvers that might get this pristine armor of yours loose.” The dragon said with a hint of innocence, although by the way his eye looked away, Arcturus figured the dragon had a trick or two up his scales, and honestly, he did not mind. In fact, he was a tad curious what Veledar had cooked up inside his scaly head. He looked to shield to find it latched on properly upon his back, his pouches too were all firmly closed, and then finally his sword neatly tucked in its sheath. The issue, as Veledar hinted earlier.

“Think I found the culprit,” Arcturus tied the sword's hilt onto the scabbard by a thread. “All set now, Veledar. Ready for whatever you have planned.”

“Excellent!” The dragon smiled, one that made the human a little flattered that he was bringing such joy to the dragon under him. Veledar walked along the tunnel that led them both out of the cave, then stretched his wings as he breathed in the cold air of the morning.

“Try not to fly too high. Might get a tad cold up there.”

“Are you saying your shiny armor can’t handle a bit of cold?” The dragon smirked.

“Oh, it certainly is capable of that. Can’t say the same about the man who wears it.”

“Good thing I’m warm then,” Veledar's cocky smile grew wider. “Ready now? Or do I have to warm you up with my tongue?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine!” The human waved off the tongue poking out of Veledar’s mouth. “Spread your wings and take us in the air before you get weirder ideas.”

He felt Veledar suddenly bound forward, and with a great flap of his wings, the two of them ascended into the air. Arcturus watched with glee as the snowy ground they passed left them behind. Veledar kept climbing with every wing-beat, and Arcturus scanned the landscape below like a child who traveled by gryphon for the first time. In some ways, it was just like looking off the deck of an airship. He remembered doing this numerous times over his lifetime, but it felt different. This was more personal, more intimate, and it felt glorious. The constant rhythm of Veledar's wing-beats, even the cold wind blowing his face…it all felt different. Like he was safer than he’d ever been. Even the stomach lurching that usually accompanied their flights from before was not present. Perhaps he was destined to fly, after all.

“How is it going back there?” Veledar roared, his voice filled with happiness. The dragon then dipped to turn gracefully in the air.

Words failed Arcturus at first. He was simply too caught up in the sensation overload of the flight to focus on a proper reply. After all, he could never imagine such a sight from the ground. How the sun lit landscape could look any more beautiful than it did right now, when he rode upon the back of a real, friendly dragon? It certainly was not the first thing a normal dragon slayer would envision.

How can I ever go back to a normal life? Arcturus wondered as his hands tightened their grip on the leather collar wrapped around Veledar’s neck.

There is nothing that can compare to this. Not even gryphon riding.

The human smiled when he imagined how Veledar would react when compared with a gryphon. Although he also realized perhaps he had waited a tad too long to reply to the dragon. He let the excitement out in a loud declaration of his feelings, “THIS IS AMAZING!” He shouted from atop his lungs and let that broad, honest smile wash across his bright face, without a hint of resistance or regret.

Veledar roared again in approval as they continued their turn in the sky. They ended it when Veledar tilted his wings back and spread them wide as he entered a steady glide. Arcturus closed his eyes and let the wind batter against his face. He took a deep breath from the crisp air as Veledar gave another flap of his mighty wings. Arcturus tried to picture himself as the dragon, flying right now in the sky. He did not know if it was his imagination at work, but he swore he could almost feel the wind that caressed Veledar’s wings, kissing his many red scales.

The dragon spent the next few minutes in various banks or turns. Arcturus started to lean into them, slowly starting to predict how Veledar would turn by the strong muscles that moved beneath him. A dragon was not only wings, as many common people believed. Lots of muscles worked together to keep these magnificent creatures airborne. Truly, it was an honor to experience flying in such an intimate, indescribable way. Arcturus looked past the dragon as he finished yet another turn. A great forest spread across the land in the distance. Its green mass seemed to stretch on for miles upon miles, and he knew beyond the verdant expanse was the city of Entis. The forest of despair, some people used to call the amalgamation of trees, but Arcturus had never stepped foot in that forest, just as he had never heard of anyone going in it. Although the rumors whispered of monsters that lurked inside the shadows, ready to feast on the blood of foolish adventurers. Arcturus knew Lumara would’ve purged the forest of such threats decades ago.

“It’s just tales meant to scare children.” He brushed off the thought from his mind out loud.

“Did you just compare my flying to your stupid bedtime stories?”

Arcturus waved apologetically when the dragon turned his head to chill him in the saddle with one of his imposing azure eyes. “No, no. This forest that stretches ahead of us…heard some really interesting things about it.”

The dragon checked it out for a few seconds, then blew a gust of black smoke. “It’s just a bunch of trees. Now, are you ready for something a bit more advanced?” Veledar turned his head to look at the human. Arcturus could see in his eyes that the dragon was simply begging to show off for him. Distracted from his concerns about the weird forest, he found himself nodding to the dragon.

“You bet! Let’s see what you can do, young hero!”

“That’s the spirit! I knew I liked you!” Veledar cried, and with a mighty flap of his great wings, the eager dragon started to climb even higher into the sky. With each wing-beat Veledar continued his ascent, until Arcturus found it was starting to get harder to breathe. He was practically leaning forward to hug the dragon as the forces of the earth and sky pushed him against Veledar's back. Arcturus looked for a moment to the ground below, so far removed from his current position.

“Oh, sweet Gods,” The human muttered and just hugged Veledar a tad harder. He had never been this high before, not even inside the protective wooden belly of an airship.

“Ready?” The dragon cried out.

“Always!” He found himself shouting back to him. Despite his slight fear, Arcturus trusted the dragon to see him through to the end of this magnificent journey, and pushed whatever slivers of fear that still existed within him down with the next flap of Veledar's wings.

“Hold on!”

Arcturus felt Veledar's wings slightly tilt, and the dragon had started flipping over backwards. Arcturus felt himself lift slightly in the harness. The world that was once below him was now above. He found himself cheering, his fear soon turning into excitement once more. Veledar then reoriented himself into a dive bomb. Arcturus could feel gravity pulling down as the wind whistled passed his cherry red ears. This was thrilling, exciting, making him forget that the ground was rushing towards him at a startling pace. Every nerve in his body told him that such fall should be terrifying. However, his next cheer silenced those nerves once more. Veledar even joined in with an ear-splitting roar.

“Hold on again!” The dragon yelled, “It's not over yet!”

Veledar started spinning round and round. Arcturus could see that everything that was not Veledar or himself was a blur as he hung onto the dragon’s frame. He gave a cheer as he clutched those crimson scales for dear life, until the dragon stopped, spread his wings and returned to a gentle glide.

Once again Arcturus found himself speechless. His smile was still on his face, and he imagined that it would be there for quite some time. That was probably the most fun he had had in quite some time.

“T-that was...Gods, I’ve never felt such intense feelings in my life!” He breathed aloud slowly. “Thank you Veledar....you can’t imagine how grateful I am to taste the true freedom of the skies, just like a dragon.”

“You’re most welcome my metal-clad partner.” Veledar replied, turning his head to look at him. “With the help of these great wings of mine, I shall set you free from the earthly bonds that kept you so horribly chained.”

“Chained?” Arcturus raised a finger. “We had airships, you know. I could have always flown with a gryphon whose feathers keep warmer than your scales.”

“True, but you said you never flew a gryphon,” The dragon stuck out his tongue. “Besides, does one of those bloated airships even hold a candle to me? Can they spin or dive like we just did?”

The dragon gave him a coy smirk. He knew what Arcturus was going to say. How could he not? This was nothing like any other time he had gone flying. However, the dragon was waiting for his answer, wanting to hear him say it.

“No, nothing can quite compare to this kind of flying, Veledar. It was like seeing for the first time.... It was something beautiful, beyond what mere words can express.”

“Well I have to say, Arcturus. In this light, you look rather good on my back. I think I might like you up there.”

“Bah. Dragon compliments. Why do they have to feel so damn sweet?”

“Because I’m nothing but sweetness underneath these scales!”

“Yeah, I got that from our first encounter. Oh, and just so you know, I think you look good in any light.” He laughed, rubbing his neck with his hand. He saw Veledar's eyes focus on him for a moment, as another grin found its way to his muzzle. Arcturus wondered what was going through the dragon's mind at that moment. Probably just loving the compliments.

“Oh, stop that flattering before you turn my wings pink.”

“Really? You get that shy when somebody compliments you?”

“NO! Proud, magnificent, self-indulging at times, sure. But never embarrassed over a bit of praise!” Veledar turned his attention back to the mountains below. “However, I think we should go check in with our companions. See if they are ready for the journey. And Arcturus?”

“Yes?”

“I take it you would not say no to flying like this again?”

Arcturus did not even need time to think. “There is not a thing in the world that would stop me from flying with you again, Veledar.” Arcturus held out his arms wide like they too were wings. “Arcturus and Crimson Sky, the greatest aerial warriors of all time!”

“I like it, although let’s put my name first. I do not wish to confuse people about who is doing the real work here.”

“Pffff. I don't think our adoring fans will mind how we put our names together.”

“Adoring fans, you say?”

Both man and dragon gave a laugh in unison as Veledar descended towards the snowy entrance of the cave. Arcturus braced himself as Veledar landed on the ground. Although the sudden lurch of their landing never came, the dragon had been incredibly gentle as his leathery pads touched the ground. Arcturus undid all the straps as he dismounted the dragon, his boots landing in the snow. He saw that Lyndis came running over, flinging bits of snow around with each step of her boots.

“How was it? Were you afraid? Was he gentle? Tell me Arcturus! I need to know!” Lyndis spoke quickly, her voice almost running together with each question on her excited breath.

“It was great, no, he was when he needed to be.” Arcturus chuckled at how fast he managed to answer all of those questions, “Don't worry though, we will head out soon enough, and you will see for yourself.”

“You are volunteering me to carry the half elf?” Veledar asked, holding his snout up high.

“How can you deny her desire when she is in awe of your splendor, O’ dear dragon? Can’t you see she craves the touch of your scales, the sound of your wings taming the savage skies above, the marvelous sights only a dragon can see?” He figured any way to convince the dragon to let Lyndis fly with them as well would play the exact same tune as his vanity.

Veledar fidgeted for a moment, flicking his tail as he thought it over. With a final swish of his tail, and a roll of his eyes, Veledar replied, “Well, I suppose she can fly with us when you put it that way… After all, every group of adoring fans starts with one…”

“THANK YOU VELEDAR!” Lyndis cheered, running over to give his chest a big hug. The dragon simply returned it with one of his paws as he patted her back, “Yes, yes of course you’re welcome. Just make sure to spread the word when this Entis business is all said and done, yes? Speak from the heart, and maybe add a thing or two about my scales. Humans love to praise them.”

In spite of the vain tone he seemed to be giving, Arcturus knew the dragon was looking forward to it as well. He could just tell by the look Veledar had in his eyes.

“Now dear Lyndis, do you have the best path planned out? Entis is no mere village from what you all keep telling me.” Veledar undid his hold, letting Lyndis go.

“Uh-huh,” She replied, nodding and pulling out the map. Arcturus walked over just as she started pointing to it. “You see, it should be a straight shot right over this forest here. I also heard rumors that the Lumarians avoid this forest at all costs. Airships, caravans, patrols, anything you can think of. It's almost like the very source of plague dwells within that big wall of trees.”

“And what is the plan when we arrive near the city?” Arcturus asked.

“Well, I figure Veledar there turns back to the size of a common drake, then I figure out a disguise for you. Merlia and I are lucky since no one knows who we are, so we can blend into the crowd as travelers. We walk in, find a way to get to the castle, and simply get the book back!”

“Oh great yer back!” Merlia shouted, leading a snowy eagle out of the cave. The eagle was large enough for someone to ride on it, but nowhere near the size of Veledar. Arcturus was thankful that the eagle was presented with the cave behind her. Otherwise he did not think he would be able to see her perfect white body and feathers. “Bout time ye get back. Ulga here was startin to get impatient!” The dwarf pulled out a brush and started to stroke the eagle’s feathers. “Did ya at least have a good fly?”

“Yes Merlia, it was literally the best flight I ever had with him yet.” Arcturus said cheerfully.

“Good, now we can be getting out of here and back to our adventurin’.”

“Before we go, let me just present you with something I completely forgot about.” Veledar said from behind Arcturus.

The paladin turned to see the dragon rifling through some of the pouches on his harness, until he procured a thin looking silver metallic rod. He gently handed it over to Arcturus, who grasped it softly into his hands. It was roughly eight inches long, and engraved of course with golden dragons.

“What is it? Some kind of scepter?” He asked, turning the rod over in his hands, then bringing it closer to his eyes.

“Be careful and look.” Veledar replied, pointing to a small section at a gold dragon's eye. “Now press that button, and make sure you’re not near anyone.”

“What’s it going to do? Shoot flames?” He chuckled.

“Just press it you stubborn human. The real fun is in discovering how how these things work!” Veledar playfully shoved him, then sat softly on his haunches several feet away.

“Well, here goes nothing,” Arcturus pressed the dragon's eye firmly with his thumb. The rod expanded up to six feet, causing the paladin to jump back in surprise.

Veledar laughed, and Lyndis ran over with her eyes wide. From the tip of the rod came a blade that seemed to be made of fire.

“So, what did you and Merlia end up borrowing from my armory?” Veledar asked as Arcturus noticed the dragon’s eyes were firmly locked on the blazing weapon he held.

“Oh, I grabbed a pair of somewhat ordinary magical rapiers you had in there.” Lyndis held up a pair of ornate handled rapiers. Each one was black with silver lines running along the hilts. “Merlia over there picked up a chain shirt you had lying around in a pile of other armor. Once again, it had a minor magical aura which means it’s more useful than it looks.”

Arcturus watched the dragon take that bit of information down. He pictured he was making a note of it in his head. Then the dragon nodded, “Good, now we will be better prepared for whatever lays ahead.”

Arcturus held the blade firmly in his hand. It was light, way lighter than he thought a weapon like this should have been. He swished it a few times, finding it put almost no strain on his arm when swung.

“Dats a fancy stick ye got dere.” Merlia said, looking the weapon up and down. “Course, ye be findin me sticking to dis here bow o’ course.”

“Well, are you ready to go? Or shall we continue blabbering about weapons?” Veledar asked them as he spread his wings wide.

“Always ready ta go.” Merlia responded, getting ready to mount Ulga.

“Yeah. Let’s put our feet…err, wings to work already. We got lots of ground to cover today,” said Lyndis.

Arcturus hit the button on the weapon, retracting it once more until it returned to its original size. He found a ring to hook it to on his belt for easy reach. With another crouch from Veledar, he slung himself on top of the dragon, once again feeling the same excitement building inside his chest.

“There’s always this much anticipation to fly, Veledar?”

“Got a taste for it now?” Veledar smirked, “and yes, that's usually a good sign.” The dragon turned his snout to Lyndis, who seemed to hesitate before mounting the dragon.

“Come on, I swear he's gentle.” Arcturus extended a hand to the reluctant rogue. “There won’t be any twists or sudden turns when I’m here.”

“Oh Arcturus, don't coddle the girl. She might like surprises.” Veledar wiggled his tail impatiently.

Lyndis grabbed the paladin’s proffered hand firmly and pulled herself up until she was sitting behind him.

“Good Gods, Lyndis! Is it me or have you put on a bit of weight since we got here?” Veledar’s limbs wobbled as soon as the rogue settled on his back. “I don't think I can carry you after the sumptuous meals I’ve served!” The red drake hissed.

Arcturus heard a smack as Lyndis struck the dragon with her first. Almost instantly the dragon regained his composure and showed no sign of struggling.

“I guess I really have lost my fine touch. Fine then. Let’s do this flying thing again,” The dragon grumbled, turning his snout to the sky. Arcturus felt him shift as his wings readied to flap. Behind him, the dragon’s tail tip twitched with excitement.

Then Ulga suddenly shot past them into the sky.

“Hey, I was supposed to be the one in the lead!” Veledar moaned as he took off after the eagle and the dwarf mounted atop her back.

“Then ye gotta be fasta den dat!” Merlia shouted out over her shoulder. Arcturus saw her pat Ulga, though she leaned suspiciously close to the eagle’s head, almost like she whispered something into the eagle's ear. If he knew any better, it was an encouragement for the eagle to fly even faster.

“Come on, Ulga! Make that scaly bastard eat yer feathers!”

“As if I’ll ever allow that!” Veledar growled at the challenge.

Arcturus felt Lyndis hold his armor tight as Veledar sped up to gain on Ulga.

“Veledar. For Scales’ sake, this doesn't have to be a race!” Arcturus shouted out, laughing as Veledar continued his pursuit.

“Oh, brighten up, you clanking bucket of metal! Our adventure has been lacking competitive spirit ever since I’ve stuffed you with meals in my mother’s…in the gracious halls of my lair!” The dragon replied as they flew within feet of the dwarf. With a proud roar Veledar passed them before he turned back and stuck his tongue out at the dwarf.

They all flew towards the capital for about an hour, with the forest below them. The race they agreed to enjoy started to fade. Currently, the dragon and the eagle flew side by side over the tops of the clutter of trees that made up the forest. Arcturus shook his head, as it seemed they were flying closer and closer to the sea of green leaves.

“Dis reminds me of them elven lands. Makes me wonder, what is da name o’ da forest dere?” Merlia shouted.

“That would be the forest of despair!” Arcturus replied.

“Oh great. Dats a wonderful name for a forest. What’s wrong wit you humans? Yer mommas read ya one ta many creepy stories?”

“She has a point, Arcturus.” Veledar laughed, causing Arcturus to squint his eyes. He once again found himself watching Veledar as he flew high above the forest. The dragon slightly moved his wings, no doubt to stay with the air currents.

“So where did you guys end up flying to?” Lyndis asked in Arcturus' ear.

“Just gave the mountain a few loops. Veledar was just getting me used to the feel of his wings. It was way better than being picked up like prey for sure.”

“He picked you up? You never told me that when you recounted your story!”

“He screamed like a banshee queen!” Veledar laughed, “No wonder he did not wish to tell you. It would tarnish his reputation as a brave paladin.”

“Anyone would have screamed their guts when placed in that situation. We humans aren’t made for such kind of thrills! Heights pose a serious danger you know.” He shot back, pressing his finger on the dragon's back firmly. “Or if a certain dragon was going to drop him.”

“I never planned on doing that, even if we were on much worse terms.” Veledar snickered.

“Anyway,” Arcturus continued, rolling his eyes. “He did a loop, then some rolls, and ended up with a nose dive towards the ground.”

“Amazing!” said Lyndis in surprise. “Even the pegasai back home won’t do a loop!”

“Wait, you have flown before?” Arcturus asked. He was almost sure that, judging by the excitement she had shown Veledar, that the elf never tasted the exhilarating freedom of the high skies. Perhaps it was Veledar’s size that intimidated her.

“Aye!”

“I thought these pegasi were reserved for the royal knights of your country. Am I wrong?” He asked, certain he had read about that in reports from long ago. The sky knights were quite a force to deal with. They could get in really quick, hit their target, and extract before anyone knew what happened. Pegasi were even faster than gryphons, and it usually took some tricky maneuvering of forces in order to deal with them.

“That’s a misconception. See, they are just knights, not just trained out by the royal guard.” Lyndis replied, holding up her right finger as she talked. Sadly, Veledar, I think they might be faster than you.”

“Most likely the only area in which they excel!” Veledar shot back with a growl. The dragon turned slightly right and started a decent down towards the forest. Arcturus started to wonder what Veledar could be doing. Did he want to skim the tree tops? He did not mention anything about wanting to rest his wings.

“Hey Veledar, why are you descending towards the forest? You can't be so tired that you want to rest now!” He stared as Veledar continued to descend without a word or snarky quip back.

“Is he alright?” Lyndis whispered into his ear. Arcturus could feel her hands tightening around his waist.

“Veledar!” Arcturus shouted out to the dragon, who was now practically touching the treetops as he flew.

“What's da matter wit da dragon?” Merlia shouted from above as Ulga brought her closer towards them.

“We don't know!” Lyndis shouted back, “Veledar just started heading towards the forest and won’t answer us!”

Arcturus touched Veledar's neck scales with his gloved hand. He patted them gently, trying to ignore the trees that were almost hitting Veledar's limbs now.

“What is going on with you, buddy?” He whispered to himself. He then took a deep breath, “VELEDAR! Wake up from whatever the hell you’re doing!”

The dragon shook his head with a savage swipe from left to right. He tilted his wings, and stopped in a hover above the trees. “Graaawwrrr!” He continued to shake his head as he let out growls of frustration. Arcturus thankfully managed to stay in the saddle, with Lyndis clutching him tightly from behind.

“What in the world just happened? Veledar. Lyndis. Are you alright?”

Arcturus didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he looked down at the forest and felt a pit grow in his stomach. Perhaps the rumors about this strange forest were true all along. There had to be some reason why everything from Lumara typically avoided this place.

“I’m alright, if you can call it that. Gods…I have a bad feeling about this.” Lyndis said. Arcturus could feel her move one hand to what most likely was the hilt of her rapier. The man thought about doing the same, but he held his hand against the dragon's scales instead. He had to try and wake Veledar up from whatever ailed him. Perhaps he just needed to hear the voice of a friend.

“Veledar! Brightscales. Crimson head. Are you listening to me? No? Then focus on my voice. Listen to my voice Veledar. Focus.”

Veledar shook his head for a final time as he let out a deep roar from his throat. He moved his head slowly to look around before turning around to look to Arcturus with one of his blue eyes.

“Arcturus. Lyndis. Where are we?” Veledar asked between steady beats of his wings.

“You tell us, dragon, because I certainly haven’t used one of my charms to cloud your mind.” Lyndis laughed nervously.

“I don't.... remember much,” Veledar said, stumbling over his own words.

“Great. Just…this is a fantastic start to our journey. Is there anything you can remember? Any details on what caused you to bring us so close to these ugly trees?” Lyndis continued her questioning. Arcturus felt her hand move from her rapier back to his shoulder.

“I…I remember a voice calling my name from the forest below. Then everything started to get fuzzy and heavy, kind of like when you drink another barrel of ale after you had one too many. My next memory is you shouting my name.” The dragon said.

“It sounds like ya fell fer de ole siren’s song!” Merlia shouted from above.

“Strange, but believable, given the evidence. I might have to take your word for it. I have never met a siren.” The dragon growled deep in his throat as he barred his teeth, “I think we should get as far away from this accursed place as we can. Right now!”

Veledar gave his wings a stronger beat that elevated them above the trees. That’s when Arcturus saw something move towards them from beneath the forest’s thick canopy. Dark green vines flew up to Veledar, easily wrapping around the dragon's limbs.

“What are these accursed things?” The dragon thrashed as he growled and snapped at the vines that seemed to grip tighter and tighter around his scales.

“I don’t know, but I bet they’ve not just went through all the trouble of crawling up just to give us a welcoming hug!”

“Mraaaarrrr!” Arcturus felt the dragon jerk beneath him. Veledar pulled against constricting vines with a flurry of wing beats, and when that failed, the dragon pulled up a green serpent and brought his muzzle down to chew through a second, freeing his left paw.

“That’s one way to say no to hugs,” Arcturus pulled out the rod and activated it, letting it extend to its full length before his very eyes.

“Will you just stop joking about this and kill them?” Lyndis hissed from behind.

Like a valiant knight obeying the request of a maiden in need, Arcturus did a quick salute gesture, then swung the weightless flaming blade down to slice a cluster of vines off his friend’s right paw.

“Look at them burn!” Veledar growled excitedly.

“Yeah! Stay off my dragon you nasty, jealous plants!” Arcturus too gave a cheer of victory as he slashed through yet another cluster, but it was short lived. From the severed vines, either cut by teeth or burned by sword, several more started to regrow. They sprang up with an inhuman force to start wrapping around the now roaring and snarling red dragon. One of the said vines wrapped around the dragon's neck and pulled hard. Hard enough to pull a fully grown, winged dragon down towards the tree tops that pointed their sharp tips right at his belly.

Arcturus sliced through the offending vine almost instantly. He wasn’t about to give up his friend to whatever sorcery the forest produced. Veledar had moved his neck and grazed the fire blade on the pole. Thankfully, his mother thought of this scenario. Veledar, being a red dragon, was impervious to fire, magical or otherwise. Arcturus grinned, knowing he could actually slice his way wildly around Veledar and not physically hurt the dragon with the weapon. From behind, he heard Lyndis mutter all sorts of curses. Most of them ended with the word ‘focken’ with every breath as she too was no doubt working her rapiers against the vines that were now trying to wrap around her lithe body.

“Looks like ye need a bit o’ help. Say hello ta ma big friend, ye crawly green snails!”

From the corner of his eye Arcturus saw that Merlia had pulled out the oath bow and was raining what arrows she could into the vines. However, despite their efforts to grant Veledar that one moment where he could lift himself about the trees, the vines held firm in their assault.

“Grawr, this is working about as well as a human trying to kill me with his fists!” The dragon snarled.

“Use a spell then!” Arcturus cried out.

“I’ve got something better. You might want to shield your eyes a bit, and maybe take a deep breath before the air gets foul!”

“Oh, for Bahamut’s sake, dragon! This is not the time for fart jokes!”

Veledar threw a quick smile at Arcturus, breathed in deep, then unleashed a cone of fire down towards his own paws. The orange blaze touched the vines like a rain of pure sizzling destruction, turning their green forms black, drying out their wetness, and reducing the creepy things to ash.

“How is that for a joke?” The dragon licked his snout proudly.

“Great job!” Lyndis cried as the dragon got a few good wingbeats in to regain the altitude he had lost during the attack of the vines. Even so, Arcturus saw even more fly up towards the dragon, three times faster than before.

“More! There’s more!”

“Oh, you gotta be focken kiddin’.”

“Not exactly!” Arcturus grunted in response as he sliced his way through the vines with all the speed he could muster. The vines snapped in half, falling back to the forest like zombie vegetation, but the paladin’s fury could not stop the wriggly monsters from wrapping around the dragon, and with a firm pull, dragging him down from the sky.

Arcturus was dragged along with Lyndis and Veledar through the canopy of the trees. Veledar struggled the entire time as his entire body tensed up to fight, but it was for naught. The vines simply had too well of a hold on the dragon. The paladin kept on slicing vines away from his friend, until Veledar was able to get another deep breath. Arcturus shielded his face as Veledar let loose a fiery inferno that washed over his underside. Arcturus could feel the heat rise from below as feet upon feet of vines were incinerated before the might of his dragon. With all this destruction raining down upon them, the vines finally let go of them, Veledar ruptured his way through the branches and fell to the forest floor below with a thud. Lyndis -luckily being the nimble one that she was- managed to jump off at nearly the last second and avoid harm.

Veledar groaned from the ground. “Why did I have to fall from the sky again?” The dragon then smacked the ground with his tail.

“Pulled, you mean. You did not fall out of your own volition,” Arcturus corrected him as he felt his leg pinned beneath the dragon. He gave it a tug, but it would not budge. He hoped it was not broken.

“Thanks for the correction. I can die happy now that I have such a learned man by my side.” Veledar rumbled as he got back onto all fours. Arcturus sighed as felt his leg. Thankfully, it did not seem to be broken, although if it was he supposed he could have just healed it with the lay-on-hands ability he now possessed.

“Well, knowledge doesn’t do much good against whatever those were,” he unlatched himself and dismounted the dragon.

“The forest has to earn its name from something,”

Arcturus replied with a meek smile and dropped into a combat stance as he stowed the metal rod and drew his sword and shield. Veledar spread his wings wide, thrashed his tail against the ground, and barred his teeth. He heard Lyndis emerge to stand beside him, her rapier held aloft and her eyes alert.

Arcturus scanned the trees for any sign of movement, and he could see Lyndis and Veledar doing the same. Despite their waiting, there was no sign of the vines that had dragged them down into this forest. All that he could see were the numerous trees that seemed to litter the area. One oddity was that their current position had scarcer vegetation. It seemed the vines had picked this exact spot to fit them into. There were hardly any sounds from wildlife that Arcturus could hear, although he could easily blame that on Veledar’s roars. With no threat presently attacking them, Arcturus breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like whatever had caused this inopportune stop from their journey was granting them a reprieve.

“Someone has a funny way of inviting us to a stroll through the forest.” Lyndis quipped as she stowed her rapier and began dusting off her leather armor. “They could have simply asked, or charm some plants to do that for them. I heard some mages in Rothdell keep singing sunflowers as pets.”

Veledar just growled deep, hissed again, and thrashed his tail against the ground, causing a cloud of dirt to fly up around his body.

“Manticore’s gnarly bottom. I’m grounded again!” The dragon roared, folding his wings up against himself. “Why do I always have to feel the dirt under my feet?”

There was a sudden rustling of trees that caused all of them to stop and focus on that one spot. Arcturus raised his sword, Veledar spread his wings wide, and Lyndis held up a cupped hand filled with an orb of fire.

“We might not have long before our host decides we need to keep moving.” Lyndis said, lowering her cupped hand, the fire simply fading away from her relaxing fingers.

“Get off me ye dirty vines. Unless ya wanna hav some fun wit me! If dat’s da case, tis best ta buy a girl dinner first!” Came the voice of Merlia from above. Arcturus could hear the dwarf continue to swear and yell as he pictured her slicing the things with her axes. When she came into view the vines let her drop from high above. Veledar leaped up and caught the dwarf.

“Got you!” Veledar smiled as he landed back on the ground and set the dwarf down gently.

“Well I sappose ye got yer uses.” Merlia snarked, “Thank’ee laddie for da rescue. Ye might be my great hero today.”

“Oh Merlia, don’t you already know this? I am always great.” Veledar shot back, swelling his chest up.

“So not ta sound impatient, but what we doin now dat dese vines dragged us down ‘ere?” Merlia stowed her axes at her side in a single motion. Arcturus noted that she was missing arrows from her quiver, probably from all the shooting she did on the vines. “Cause it seems like dese vines be keen on keepin us down ‘ere. Do we just wander about, whistlin a merry tune?”

“It's not like we haven't done that before.” Veledar snarled, looking to the trees that had dragged him from the sky. Arcturus saw a hate flash through his eyes. The dragon really did not like having his freedom snatched away from him. The paladin stowed his sword as he too felt a tad of what Veledar was going through. They had just flown for real, only to be torn from the sky. When he found whatever person or thing that unleashed those rude vines upon his party, they would get a piece of his mind. He pictured Veledar spouting off threats, baring his teeth, snorting black smoke. He smiled at the thought.

“Besides, whoever wanted us down here clearly did not want me or the rest of you dead.” Veledar continued, then stopped with a grin, “Although I am also inclined to chock it up to the fact that I am a dragon, and that’s the only reason we survived. Can a gryphon breathe fire or endure the punishment of those stinky vines as long as I had? Not unless they grow scales on their entire body!”

“Yeah, yeah. Nothing new there,” the human grumbled. “Dragon pride excluded, I think Veledar here has a point.” Arcturus stowed his weapon back in its scabbard. “I think we just stay together, keep our eyes peeled, and try to figure out why we are here.”

“See? Arcturus here gets it.” replied Veledar, then rumbled with a deep growl in his throat, “and when we find whoever DARED to rip us from the sky, we are going to unleash the same retribution upon them in the form of words fitting their station!”

“So if they’re a stone giant, you are going to praise them?” Arcturus chuckled.

“My bet is on a midget. Only they are cowardly enough to let magic do all their work.” The dragon snorted.

Arcturus and Veledar looked through the trees to find what looked like a path winding its way through the forest. It was certainly large enough to fit them, even if they walked side by side, and any direction was good as any if they had no idea where to go. Arcturus started to walk, and Veledar joined him with a swish of his tail.

“Coming, ladies?” The dragon asked, curling his neck around to look at them.

“I most certainly am not going to stare at your butt all the way to Entis.” Lyndis shrugged the offer down.

“Da elf speaks sense,” Merlia agreed. “Ye gotta be on equal footing wit yer party if ye wanna be a good leader, dragon.”

“I haven’t actually told you to ogle my tail you know, but I understand if your eyes find it difficult to find anything more captivating amidst this…desolate landscape.”

“You do have a nice tail.” Arcturus commented with a whisper. “Just…don’t let them hear that.”

Veledar favored him with a quick smile. Arcturus thought to path that lay before them, and what new dangers were awaiting them in this forest. He thought to Veledar, walking ever so vigilantly alongside him, and why the king had wanted such a wonderful dragon dead. He hovered his hand over the hilt of his sword with each foot step that carried him along the winding path.

Whatever lays ahead, we will face it all together.

The girls soon caught up, and the group of four adventurers soon advanced into the eerie depths of the darkened forest.